The Plant Messiah

Adventures in Search of the World’s Rarest Species

By: Carlos Magdalena

Narrated by: Roy McMillan

Penguin Audio presents The Plant Messiah by Carlos Magdalena, read by Roy McMillan.

Carlos Magdalena of Kew Gardens is not your average botanical horticulturist. He's a man on a mission to save the world's most endangered plants from ecological destruction and thieves hunting for wealthy collectors. He is a plant messiah.

From the planet's tiniest waterlily - the Nymphaea thermarum - to Huarango trees with roots over 50 metres long, Carlos has a miraculous ability to bring breathtakingly beautiful plants back from the brink of extinction. He has travelled to the most remote and dangerous parts of the world - from the mountains of Peru to isolated Indian Ocean islands to the deepest Australian outback - in search of the rarest exotic species. Then, back in the Tropical Nursery at Kew, he uses pioneering, left-field techniques to help them propagate and prosper.

Now he's here to spread the gospel. The Plant Messiah is the inspirational story of a man who has devoted - and risked - his life to save incredible species, all in the name of making this Earth a greener and happier place.

Amen to that.

©2017 Carlos Magdalena (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

An engaging piece of work (Charles Elliott)

Botany, on its face, doesn't sound particularly thrilling. This book will change your mind (Bill McKibben, New York Times bestselling author of 'Earth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet' and 'Radio Free Vermont')

An entertaining, planterly romp around the world and a glimpse inside one of the world's great botanical institutions from this Kew botanist (Jane Owen)

Wonderful

As a plant grower I cannot describe how much I enjoyed the book. The narrator was also perfect. What a wonderful experience. I only wished the book was longer or there would be a part 2. Thank you to the author.

Incredible

This is a truly spectacular book. It does an amazing job of painting a picture, the narrator has a lovely smooth voice that sounds like you’re listening to a friend tell a story. If you’re interested in plants or botany, I highly recommend this. A super interesting read.